Phil Gould, a prominent figure in the NRL, has voiced his opinion on the current points system relating to bye rounds, suggesting that the league should cease awarding premiership points during these breaks. He expressed concerns over the fluctuating rankings of teams on the ladder post Round 17, where some clubs have already completed their bye rounds while others have not, leading to inconsistencies in how teams are ranked based on their actual win percentages.
Currently, teams that have three byes are granted six points, skewing the ladder and placing clubs like the Bulldogs and Storm in the second and third positions, respectively, despite their performance not necessarily reflecting their standings. He highlighted that there is only a slim margin of wins separating teams at various points on the ladder, for instance, the Broncos sit fifth while the Sharks languish in tenth, even though both have identical win counts.
Gould argued that the NRL should focus solely on the number of games won rather than giving points for byes. He stated during an episode of “Six Tackles with Gus,” “Just look at the number of games they have won. We don’t need points for the byes,” expressing frustration at the misleading nature of the current ladder.
He elaborated that if the competition disregarded bye points, teams like the Warriors and Dolphins would have a clearer reflection of their standings based on actual wins. Moreover, he pointed out that teams such as the Dragons and Rabbitohs are inaccurately represented in the standings because their win-loss records are not taken into account in the current system.
Overall, Gould’s call for reform aims to simplify how the ladder reflects team performance by eliminating bye points, which he believes create confusion and misrepresentation among teams’ standings as the season progresses. He concluded by encouraging a consistent focus on performance rather than the convoluted points system, advocating for a straightforward view of the league standings.